In 2012, the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant's sister station, Kewaunee, announced that it would close and begin the decommissioning process due to economic conditions. Understandably, this news was of concern given that we all have friends, neighbors or family members associated with Kewaunee in some way.

Today, Point Beach is Wisconsin's only operating nuclear power plant. I am very proud to say that things are going very well for us, and we are here to stay. While this is certainly good news for our community, it is also very good news more broadly because of the important role Point Beach plays in providing safe, clean, reliable electricity for our state.

Typically, people don't think about where their power comes from. Yet, many Wisconsin residents might be surprised to learn that, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), our state is a net energy importer, meaning we consume more electricity than we generate. Of the electricity generated in-state, about 69 percent comes from burning fossil fuels, namely coal and natural gas, 22 percent comes from nuclear, while renewables and other sources make up the remaining 8 percent of our state's generation.

In short, more than 20 percent of the electricity that powers Wisconsin homes and businesses is produced right here in Manitowoc County.

There are many reasons why having nuclear power as part of our fuel mix greatly benefits our state. First, and perhaps most obvious, is the fact that nuclear power produces zero greenhouse gasses.

As many know, earlier this year, the president announced an initiative to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to a 2014 article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin's power generators released 96 million tons of greenhouse gasses, with about 41 percent coming from coal plants. Over time, our state will be forced to meet the new federal standards for emissions, but having Point Beach as part of Wisconsin's energy portfolio is surely to our benefit.

Spent fuel storage

Opponents of nuclear power often cite the existence of used fuel as a concern. Yet, unlike carbon emissions that are released into the atmosphere and can be carried across community and state lines, used nuclear fuel is comprised of solid pellets, all of which are securely stored in thick concrete-lined pools or in vaults heavily enforced with concrete and steel. Used nuclear fuel is under constant monitoring and unlike carbon emissions, any nuclear plant in the country can fully account for every single piece of fuel that was used since operations began. While science proves that used nuclear fuel is stored in a safe and environmentally sound manner today, our company continues to believe that the best long-term solution is a central repository operated by the federal government.

Beyond the environmental benefits, nuclear power plants are highly reliable. For instance, Point Beach safely operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week through all kinds of weather. Because we typically only shut down for maintenance and refueling every 18 months or so, nuclear plants are not subject to disruptions in fuel supplies due to transportation challenges or extreme weather events.

This high level of performance also contributes to lower electric bills for Wisconsin's citizens. The fact that the cost of nuclear fuel has remained low and steady over time, combined with the overall efficiency of the plant, means that the overall cost per unit for production is often lower than other sources of generation. So, while Wisconsin electricity users typically consume about 15 percent more electricity than those in other states, households in Wisconsin spend about 5 percent less than the U.S. average, according to the EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey.

Clearly, the power produced by the Point Beach Nuclear Plant is an important part of our state's energy portfolio. We are very proud to be part of the community here in Manitowoc County and look forward to continuing to serve the people of Wisconsin for decades to come.

Eric McCartney is site vice president for NextEra Point Beach Nuclear Plant.